The effect of histamine, isoproterenol and tyramine on rat uterine cyclic AMP

Isoproterenol (10(-4) M), histamine (10(-3) M) and tyramine (10(-3) M) elevated cyclic AMP levels in incubated rat urerine segments. Promethazine (10(-6) M) an H1-receptor antagonist was ineffective in blocking the increase in cyclic AMP due to isoproterenol, histamine and tyramine. Buriamide (10(-6) M), an H2 receptor antagonist, was effective in almost abolishing the cyclic AMP elevation due to histamine, whereas burimamide did not affect the cyclic AMP levels elevated by tyramine and only slightly reduced the isoproterenol response. Propranolol was effective in reducing or abolishing the cyclic AMP accumulation by all three agonists. The respective blockade by burimamide or propranolol was overcome by increasing the concentration of the agonists. Histamine (10(-3) M) and tyramine (10(-3) M) failed to elevate cyclic AMP in uterine segments obtained from reserpine treated rats. The data supports the hypothesis that histamine, like tyramine, has an indirect effect on the rat uterus mediated through the release of endogenous norepinephrine.